training O


ne of the key tasks of the Biodynamic Association is to organise and support biodynamic training. is has always been carried


out by the Association, but 2010 has been an especially active year! Early in the year, we received news that the Biodynamic


Course, which has been a part of Emerson College for many years, would no longer be run by the College. is course has been a much loved biodynamic training in Britain and throughout the English speaking world, and it is needed now more than ever. So we immediately entered into discussions with course leader Arjen Huese to see if the Biodynamic Association could help. e outcome was that the Biodynamic Agriculture Course and a new Biodynamic Horticulture Course will continue as part of the Biodynamic Association. Much work has been done over the past six months to establish within the Association a new Biodynamic Agricultural College which will run these two courses. e College will continue to be located at the Rachel Carson Building at Emerson College and will maintain close links with Emerson and the evolving activities that will take place there. Our vision is that the Biodynamic Agricultural College will develop to offer a variety of trainings in biodynamic agriculture and horticulture, and in addition will be a centre for biodynamic research and consultancy. Many of our members have given generous support to the establishment of the College for which we are very grateful. We look forward to the new intake of students in September and the Biodynamic Association’s AGM which will take place there. For the past few years the Biodynamic Association


has offered a number of one day workshops on various topics. is year has been no exception. We offered an introduction to biodynamics workshops, a bee workshop and a forestry workshop. e bee workshop was very well attended, which was


heartening, but the others were not well attended and sadly most were cancelled. We also offered again a short six day course giving a more comprehensive introduction to biodynamic theory and practice. Again, few people signed up and it too was cancelled. We understand that this has been a difficult year in general for workshops and short courses, so this may be part of a wider picture. However, we have reflected on the response to these training events and concluded that it is a good time to review what we offer. We wish to consider whether our training events are providing our members and other interested people with workshops and short courses that are needed and wanted. A review of our training events will take place this autumn. Your views as members are asked for and wanted. Last but not least, I write about our Apprentice Learning


programme. is two year biodynamic apprentice training has been successfully operating for many years due to the enthusiasm and generosity of the many biodynamic farms and gardens which are Biodynamic Association apprentice training centres. Last year a major decision was taken to seek accreditation for this programme. Since July 2009 the Association’s training group has been working with the Crossfields Institute who have guided us along the road to accreditation. A working group of the training group was formed and seven stalwart biodynamic trainers worked steadily over the past year with colleagues at Crossfields to develop the Level ree accredited programme. We are very excited that we can for the first time offer an accredited biodynamic apprentice learning programme in September of this year. Many thanks to all those who worked tirelessly to make this possible.


Timothy Brink - 10 -


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